Echeveria plant named &#39;Dark Moon&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Echeveria  cultivar named ‘Dark Moon’ is disclosed, characterized by concentric rosettes comprised of an abundance of deep violet black leaves. The new cultivar is robust growing, as compared to other existing dark  Echeverias , enabling increased and faster propagation of the cultivar. The new cultivar ‘Dark Moon’ is more resistant to disease and “shattering” (as occurs with summer stress syndrome, a disease of some  Echeverias , particularly the dark-leaved varieties). The new variety is an  Echeveria , part of the Crassulaceae complex that includes  Aeonium, Crassula, Graptopetalum, Pachyphytum, Sedum  and others.  Echeveria  is a popular genus, typically produced as container plants for the patio or as landscape plants, as a variety of ornamental purposes.

Latin name of the genus and species: Echeveria hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘DARK MOON’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar, Echeveria ‘Dark Moon’, is the product of a planned breeding program. The new variety originated from a cross pollination of the proprietary, unpatented, seed parent, Echeveria ‘PB’ with the pollen parent an unpatented, proprietary variety of Echeveria referred to as ‘AG Improved’. The cross pollination was made during April 2010 in Vista, Calif., at a commercial greenhouse. The new cultivar ‘Dark Moon’ was discovered by the inventor, Renee O'Connell, in March 2011, in Vista, Calif. at a commercial greenhouse.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Dark Moon’ was first performed in Vista, Calif., at a commercial greenhouse, by terminal vegetative cuttings in December 2011. Echeveria ‘Dark Moon’ has since produced multiple generations and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Dark Moon’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DARK MOON’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DARK MOON’ as a new and distinct Echeveria cultivar:

-   -   1. Echeveria ‘Dark Moon’ displays compact, concentric rosettes         of a deep violet-black foliage color, an unusual foliage color         that is not displayed by other comparable Echeveria cultivars.     -   2. Echeveria ‘Dark Moon’ forms rosettes with slightly undulate,         upturned leaves, in combination with the unusual violet-black         coloration.     -   3. Echeveria ‘Dark Moon’ is more easily and rapidly propagated         due to robust, rapid growth.

4. Echeveria ‘Dark Moon’ is more easily and rapidly propagated due to increased resistance to Echeveria Summer Stress Disorder that afflicts Echeveria ‘Black Prince’, Echeveria affinis and Echeveria agavoides, in particular.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Dark Moon’ can be compared to plants of the unpatented, proprietary seed parent Echeveria ‘PB03’, and are similar in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar ‘Dark Moon’ display a dark violet-black foliage color, not displayed by Echeveria ‘PB03’. The new cultivar ‘Dark Moon’ forms rosettes that are of more upright morphology than the rosettes of seed parent Echeveria ‘PB03’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Dark Moon’ can be compared to plants of the unpatented, proprietary pollen parent Echeveria ‘AGA’, and are similar in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar ‘Dark Moon’ exhibit more resistance to the Summer Stress Syndrome “shattering”, than the pollen parent Echeveria ‘AGA’. In addition, the new cultivar ‘Dark Moon’ grows more upright than the pollen parent ‘AGA’, resulting in less breakage of the rosette leaves during shipping, in contrast to the pollen parent ‘AGA’. Further, plants of the new cultivar ‘Dark Moon’ are faster growing than the pollen parent ‘AGA’, enabling faster propagation and production in the commercial nursery.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

The new cultivar ‘Dark Moon’ can be compared to the unpatented commercial variety Echeveria ‘Black Prince’. Plants of the Echeveria ‘Black Prince’ are similar to plants of the new cultivar ‘Dark Moon’ in most horticultural characteristics. However, the new cultivar ‘Dark Moon’ displays a more upright morphology than does Echeveria ‘Black Prince, resulting in less leaf breakage during shipping. In addition, plants of the new cultivar ‘Dark Moon’ are more resistant to the Summer Stress Syndrome “shattering” than plants of Echeveria ‘Black Prince’. Additionally, plants of the new cultivar ‘Dark Moon’ are faster growing than plants of Echeveria ‘Black Prince’, enhancing propagation and production times in the commercial nursery.

The new cultivar ‘Dark Moon’ can be compared to the unpatented commercial variety Echeveria agavoides. Plants of Echeveria agavoides are similar to plants of the new cultivar ‘Dark Moon’ in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar ‘Dark Moon’ display a dark violet black color not displayed by plants of Echeveria agavoides. In addition, the new cultivar ‘Dark Moon’ is more resistant to the Summer Stress Syndrome “shattering” than is Echeveria agavoides. Further, the new cultivar ‘Dark Moon’ grows much faster than Echeveria agavoides, resulting in much faster propagation and production times, as compared with Echeveria agavoides.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs in FIG. 1 through FIG. 4 illustrate in full color typical plants of ‘DARK MOON’ grown in a greenhouse in Vista, Calif. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and equipment. While the colors in these photographs may display variances of color as compared to the living cultivar, due to LRV (light reflectance value), they are as accurate as possible using conventional photographic techniques. Colors in the photographs may appear to differ slightly from the color values cited in the botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Echeveria plant. The following photographs depict plants grown under natural light conditions of 2500-4000 foot-candles. Temperatures ranged from −1° C. to 29° C. night and day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to the plants.

FIG. 1 illustrates in full color the top view of a rosette typical of plants of Echeveria ‘Dark Moon’ grown in a greenhouse in Vista, Calif.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a rosette typical of plants of Echeveria ‘Dark Moon’ grown in a greenhouse in Vista, Calif.

FIG. 3 illustrates in full color the inflorescence typical of plants of Echeveria ‘Dark Moon’ grown in a greenhouse in Vista, Calif.

FIG. 4 illustrates in full color the rosette typical of plants of Echeveria ‘Dark Moon’ grown in a greenhouse in Vista, Calif.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to the Pantone Process Color System Guide, Pantone CYMK, 2014, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘Dark Moon’ plants in a commercial greenhouse in Vista, Calif. Temperatures ranged from −1° C. to 29° C. night and day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to the plants. Natural light conditions were approximately 2500 to 4000 fc of light. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Echeveria hybrid ‘DARK MOON’ -   Propagation:     -   -   Type of propagation typically used.—Terminal vegetative             cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 11 days at approximately 24°             C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous. -   Plant:     -   -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 4 months from a             cutting.         -   Container size of the plant described.—14 cm.         -   Growth habit.—Densely rosette plant.         -   Height.—Approximately 11 cm to top of highest leaf             Approximately 60.0 cm. to top of highest inflorescence.         -   Plant spread.—Approximately 14.5 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Rapid.         -   Branching characteristics.—Not typically observed. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Rosulate. Average length: Approximately             7.5 cm. Longest 10 cm Average width: 2.5 cm Widest width:             Approximately 3.3 cm. Width at base: 1.1 cm. Shape of blade:             Oblanceolate Apex: Acute, mucronate. Base: Nearly elliptical             Margin: Entire Texture of top surface: Glabrous, glaucous.             Texture of bottom surface: Glabrous, glaucous. Quantity of             leaves per plant: Approximately 40.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side, towards apex: Near S 327-2             Pantone towards apex. Young foliage, upper side, apical             margin: Near S 79-5 Pantone. Young foliage upper side,             towards base of leaf Near S 298-7 Pantone. Young foliage,             upper side, basal margin: Near S 296-7 Pantone. Young             foliage, under side, towards apex of leaf : Near S 326-2             Pantone Young foliage, under side, towards base of leaf :             Near S 299-6 Pantone Mature foliage upper side, towards apex             of leaf Near S 329-1 Pantone. Mature foliage, upper side,             towards base of leaf S 311-5 U Pantone. Mature foliage,             under side, towards apex of leaf Near S 328-2 Pantone.             Mature foliage, under side, towards base of leaf Near S             311-7 Pantone. Venation: There is no visual appearance of             venation. -   Flower:     -   -   Natural flowering season.—April, May and June.         -   Inflorescence type and habit.—Erect, composed of several             simple or bifurcate cincinni, each cincinnus with up to 6-9             flowers.         -   Rate of flower opening.—1 flower opens every 2-3 days.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—3-4 days, depending upon ambient             temperatures.         -   Quantity of flowers.—85 Total Inflorescence size: Height:             Approximately 60 cm. Width: Approximately 10 cm. Corolla:             Arrangement: Pentagonal Size: Length: Approximately 1.2 cm.             Width: Approximately 0.6 cm at widest point. Lobe Length:             Approximately 0.9 cm. Lobe width: Approximately 0.75 cm.             Petals: Margin: Entire. Shape: Cylindrical. Apex: Acute.             Base: Fused Texture: Glabrous, slightly glaucous.         -   Color.—When opening: Petal color, outer surface: Near S             108-1 Pantone. Petal color, outer tip: Near S 111-1 Pantone.             Inner petals not visible until fully opened. Fully opened:             Outer surface: Near S 107-1 Pantone. Outer surface, apex:             Near S 112-1 Pantone. Inner surface: Near S 112-2 Pantone.             Inner surface, apex: Near S 109-1 Pantone. Color Changes             when Aging: Near S 113-3 Pantone.         -   Bud.—(Near opening): Shape: Conical. Length: Approximately             0.7 cm Diameter: Approximately 0.45 cm Color: Towards apex             of bud: Near S 112-2 Pantone. Color, towards base of bud:             Near S 91-7 Pantone.         -   Sepals.—Margin: Entire. Shape: Deltoid Apex: Acute. Texture:             Glabrous. Color: Outer: Near S 323-3 Pantone. Inner: Near S             323-2 Pantone. Pedicels: Length: Approximately 1.3 cm Width:             Approximately 0.4 cm. Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture:             Glabrous Color: Near S 103-6 Pantone. Fragrance: None             detected. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—(Androecium) Number: Average 10 Filament Length:             Approximately 0.9 cm. Filament Color: Near S 129-3 Pantone.             Basal half near S 148-9 Pantone. Anther length: 0.15 cm.             Anther Color: Near S 11-5 Pantone. Anther Shape: Oblong.             Pollen Color: Near S 18-6 Pantone.         -   Pistil.—(Gynoecium) Number: Average 5 Length: Approximately             0.8 cm. Style Color: Near S 308-1 Pantone. Stigma: Shape:             Globose. Color: Near S 308-1 Pantone Ovary Color: Near S             18-9 Pantone. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Fruits and seeds.—Typical to Genus. Minute, less than 1 mm             dry seeds. Colored between black and brown, too small to             accurately measure with color chart.         -   Temperature tolerance.—Tolerates temperatures from             approximately −2° C. to at least 35° C.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—More resistance to the “shattering”             of Summer Stress Syndrome than other dark Echeveria             cultivars. Neither resistance or susceptibility to other             normal diseases and pests of Echeveria has been observed.         -   Drought tolerance.—Tolerates at least 3 weeks of high             temperatures without supplemental water, showing no serious             damage to plant. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Echeveria plant named ‘DARK MOON’ as herein illustrated and described. 